Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-22

THERE SOON APPEARED THREE STRANGE MEN.
s'deliver this at the telegraph Office, and
then hire horse and buggy at some livery
stable. BE sure and secure u strong horse
and buggy with rubber apron for wet
weather.
In perhaps half an hour the sound of ap-
preaching wheels was heard, and Roger
quickly announced himself. Finding the
vehicle suited for the service which he de-
sired to impose upon it, Fairfax called the
three men together, saying:
$50 to some inn for the night. At eight
o'clock tomorrow morning take the dit
ge,ece that leaves here, and passes x. cross
road-only short distance from our desti-
nation. Roger, you know the way f-om
there TO the village, and the point beyond
where you went with Mr.. Oxford yesterday
near where the brook crosses the road at
the pool You understands"
Il do SIR" said Roger, knowingly.
''Very well. then, you all understand. Put
all your bundles in the carriage and go of
for good sleep"
The three servants were quickly on their
way to the village, Roger proving himself
perfectly invulnerable when bombarde,i
with questions by the two excited and Curl
Gus Seamen.
Dick and Fairfax. meanwhile, were ON
their way to the village of Y, thirty miles
distant. At half-past three ocHsch in the
morning they were approaching the well
known town, and the east was beginning to
show faint signs of light.
Fairfax urged to a rapid pace the horse
that quickly carried them through the slunl-
herring place. He made brief pause at the
inn of Landlord Baudray. They drove dl-
rectly toward the appointed rendezvous near
the fatefu1 pool and led the horse into the
midst of neighboring grove, where it was
evident n
than by the mercst accident.
Turning to Dick. Fairfax heaved a sigh.
with the after remark:
my friend, all is complete-egery th1t9.
Only the Intervention of Heaven, now, can
defeat my plans"
Then, for the first time, Oxford's curl
osity TO the schemes Of his friend We're
satisfied.
He had made up his mind. whatever might
be their character, not to betray the slight
est emotion on learning them; and to do him
justice, outwardly he evinced no sign of the
dismay that overwhelmed him as he listened
TO the outrageous project of his mad friend
Although his heart sank within him, he
made no remark ut first. Fairfax watched
him keenly, to observe the effect OF his own
words.
Finally. with a gravity wholly unwonted
and an impressive seriousness, all the more
Fairfax, and said:
'sI promised to be with you in whatever
you undertook. will keep my word II you
insist upon 1t. 1t is not too late, even yet,for
you to forego this unfortunate affair. L, my
self, think 1t unnecessary, extremely in
practicable and dangerous, and, frankly,
| idiotic as well as wicked
Not line moved in his hearers inpassive
countenance.
That extraordinary individual had consId-
cred the entire matter in all its actual and
possible relations and contingencies; had
become excited to an unnatural and ez
tremely unreasonable pitch of mlna, and
was resolved that nothing should deter hin
from his undertaking.
Although somewhat startled at the SQUAD
(, advice and solemn words OF the hitherto
| hght-hearted Richard, and realizing. for &
moment, the folly of his prospective deet
| and the long list Of csisfortunes and evil